May 12, 2012

An Emarati artist Khalid Al Banna

Khaleejia said: Today i would like to tell you about my friend Khalid al Banna, an Emarati artist who attempts to preserve traditional taste of the youth through his art works. This interview was prepared by him for the Kashya gallery. I asked him to show up in my blog and he happily agreed :) I love his artworks, because they feature national heritage of the khaleej and UAE partiularly. Each artwork is a masterpiece and Khalid definitely has been gifted. His artworks are absolutely unique and the most important thing, his love to the heritage gave him idea on how to demonstrate its pieces in the different way to keep it alive for the new generations.

Visit his site: http://khalidalbanna.com(We are looking for a webdeveloer support to keep his brand site up-to-date, please contact us you re interested and really willing to help khalid@khalidalbanna.com or khalidalbanna@yahoo.com)

Khalid Al Banna was born in Sharjah in 1975.He graduated in 1993 with a degree in Architecture Engineering from Emirates University. This background has encouraging him to consider forms and spaces and has enhanced his sense of mass and dimension. In 2002 Al Banna began his apprenticeship with artist Yasir Al Duwaik, who inspired Al Banna to delve into the world of etching and taught him the principles and techniques of that art form.

Read this inspiring interview to know what ideas lies behind the artworks and what/who motivates this talanted Emirati artist in his work.

What inspired you to become an artist?

I starteddrawingsincemy childhood, it was as a hobby that evolved, deepenedand entrenchedover the time.I got encouraged that i have atalent fordrawingand decided to develop itand refine.

When you say you trained with etchings does that mean you
use this technique in all of your work?

I began with an etching technique, It was a very difficult
technique and unique in the Emirates, I used to produce art work with etching, unfortunately
I did not continue with it due to lack of materials and knowledge about it,
beside that it needed time to produce art works.I consider it as one of the most difficult
technique in the art.

Yasir Al Dweek, the a Jordanian pioneer of
etching is my teacher, I have been influenced
by different Artists in Emirates such as Abdul Raheem Slem.

It would appear the black and white work are more a
reference to the dark politics in the Middle East the colorful sculpture work
are more a reflection of the social trends that exist now. Can you expand on
this.What influences your work most? Politics, Current events?

Basically my work
was influenced by the dramatic events in the Middle East such as the 1st
and the 2nd Gulf War along with terroristic attack on 11 September
in New York City back in 2000.Those periods were
dark and gloomy that determined my choice of black color for the paintings as it
is commonly associated with sadness and depression.

The fabric
materials reflect a result of the rapid development experienced by the UAE.

Within just 30
years since establishment of the Union, lots of new things have appeared that
have changed social life and the same time many of customs and traditions have
disappeared.

Humanbehavior have been changed froma simple tocomplex life in the UAE as well.I tried to userawclothwhichhave rootsin the history ofthe UAE,as a wayto link the past with the present.
It is myattempt
torevivethese materials beforethey disappear once and for ever.This fabric works clearly demonstrate the economic impactson the Arab Emirates nationals, showingfeelings andemotionsthatexposureas a result ofthe economic crisis.

Do you work simultaneously with both series of work?
(sculpture and B&W?)

I workall thetimeon the idea, I may useeitherblackorwhite or fabrictechniques, that assist me to produce that art work
which based on myidea.SometimesI combine
two techniques at a time.

Do you feel it opens up more possibilities?

The experience, repetition
and researchpush
anartist to open new horizons fields
andget newideas.

Sometimeswhile I am workingI get an ideagenerated byanotherwork of art. Itis a seriesofinterrelatedideasthat aresequential.

Do both bodies of work reflect personal experiences you have
had or are they more reflective of your perceptions of change in the UAE?

Some of art work reflects personal experiences
and some of them are a reflection of perception on changes in the UAE.

Do you view your work as giving a historical context to the
fast changing UAE?

My art works has their history that
came through the old materials that are used used primarily in
the garment of the Emirati dress (“thoub”). The row materials have
historical roots which associated with the
local Emirati heritage.
Now a days, new generation become more interested in the
modern fashion trends that leads them far away from everything
that represents our local heritage and traditions. I got an
idea to make this old materials as part of my art work, as an attempt
to protect this fabrics from its extinction.

Have you ever lived outside of the UAE?No I have not tried this experience yet.Does your work make any reference to your own identity and
any persona struggles you have experienced?

In someworksI imaginedthe suffering ofsomefriendsaffected directly by the economic crisisand in someworks I give an idea of​​the suffering ofothersfrom the experiences ofwarsand crises.

P.S.Everyone who got interested, you have a unique chance to buy Khalid's artworks through his site.

2 comments:

Hello! I came to your blog, because your profile photo intrigued me. And now I see that not only one photo is cool! So, I'm glad I found you because your blog is awesome! Good job and please keep posting, because you do it great, and I start following and will visit you with pleasure!xx nik